2015 Middle East Report

90
2015 Middle East Report
years
CNEWA
Your Donations in Action
Catholic Near East Welfare Association
(CNEWA) raised more than $8.5 million
for emergency response initiatives in
Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan from
August 2014 to September 2015.
Christians lived in Syria, but today fewer
than 1.3 million remain, with half a
million internally displaced. Hundreds
are still held captive by ISIS in northern
Syria.
Funds, which continue to be deployed
at present, were collected in Canada,
Europe and the United States. Below
are highlights outlining how these
donations were distributed.
CNEWA works through the Catholic
Eastern churches, utilizing their on-theground network of priests, religious
and lay professionals to meet the needs
of those most in need, especially those
who are marginalized, forgotten or
ignored.
The political conflicts in Syria since
2011 and in Iraq since 2003 have created
a massive humanitarian crisis affecting
millions of innocent families. These
conflicts have been heightened by the
rise of extremist groups, such as ISIS,
which inflame the region even more.
Present in the Middle East for the last
90 years, CNEWA has responded swiftly
by giving special attention to the fragile
Christian populations, which are
subjected to persecution due to their
faith. The very survival of these
Christians is at risk.
In Iraq, the number of Christians
plummeted from one million in 2003 to
fewer than 200,000 today, with half of
that number displaced because of ISIS.
In 2011, more than two million
As millions flee the violence in Iraq and
Syria, CNEWA reaches out to those who
avoid refugee camps and decline to
register with United Nations assistance
programs for fear of retribution. Thus,
they are denied the aid that relief
organizations make available in the
camps. Many of these men, women and
children are persecuted minorities,
usually Christians, who rely solely on
the local churches for support.
Therefore, most of CNEWA’s emergency
aid (94 percent) has been deployed to
support persecuted Christians. Yet,
emergency assistance has also assisted
Yazidi and Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims
refugees in
Syria, Iraqi Kurdistan,
Jordan and Lebanon.
for
90
years
Donations
by Country
n Iraq28%
n Jordan6%
n Lebanon34%
n Syria32%
Donations
by Service
In good times and bad, CNEWA’s
strength has been to work with the
local churches. These bishops, priests,
religious sisters and lay people have
shown great courage over the past
years. Some have been abducted and
even killed while ministering to others
— becoming the new martyrs.
Here is a brief summary of CNEWA’s
humanitarian aid in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon
and Jordan.
Emergency Aid: CNEWA provided
milk, diapers and winter clothing to
4,985 children in 13 displacement
centres.
Syria
Lebanon
CNEWA has collected $2,754,183 for
its emergency programs in Syria.
CNEWA has raised $2,907,342 for aid
in Lebanon since August 2014.
Healthcare: CNEWA developed a
program to provide health care to some
5,500 patients in nine different locations.
Healthcare: CNEWA has provided
some 1,560 patients — Syrian, Iraqi and
Lebanese — with care and medicines
through the Good Shepherd Sisters’ St.
Anthony
Dispensary
and
the
Karagheusian
Center
in
Bourj
Hammoud. CNEWA also provided 450
Syrian displaced mothers with trauma
healing and spiritual counselling.
Education: CNEWA has facilitated the
enrollment of some 5,000 displaced
students through provision of school
kits and daily breakfasts; support
extends to university students by
providing
them
the
cost
of
transportation from their villages to
nearby universities.
Emergency Aid: CNEWA provided
milk, diapers, winter kits, clothing, food
packages, mattresses and blankets to
those most in need.
n Healthcare25%
n Education26%
n Emergency42%
n Other*7%
Other: Spiritual Support,
Support for Social Institutions
Source: CNEWA
Education: CNEWA has furnished a
school for some 600 students in Erbil
and is providing equipment to a rented
school, including operational costs, for
at least a year; CNEWA will furnish
three other schools for displaced
students in Erbil, Dohuk and Zakho.
Iraq
CNEWA has raised $2,397,005 for aid
in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Healthcare: CNEWA has constructed
and equipped two dispensaries in Erbil
and Dohuk, and two mobile clinics
serving villages outside Erbil and
refugees living near Zakho; the three
facilities in the Erbil area serve an
average of 650 patients per day.
for
90
years
“We ask for peace,
above all, for beloved
Syria and Iraq, that
the roar of arms
may cease and that
peaceful relations may
be restored among the
various groups which
make up those beloved
countries. May the
international
community not stand
by before the immense
humanitarian tragedy
unfolding in these
countries and the
drama of the
numerous refugees.”
- Pope Francis
Urbi et Orbi Message,
5 April 2015
Education: CNEWA offered 1,160
Syrian children as well as 591 Iraqi
Christian students with remedial
programs, books and tutoring classes.
These were implemented with five
partners: Good Shepherd Sisters in
Deir el Ahmar; the Karagheusian Social
Center in Bourj Hammoud; the Joint
Christian Committee in Dbayeh camp;
the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in
Achkout; and the Syriac Catholic
Patriarchate in Beirut
Emergency Aid: Distributing food and
non-food packages to 2,235 Iraqi
families — including mattresses,
blankets, diaper bags and winter kits
for children.
Jordan
With the help of benefactors and
donors, CNEWA has raised an additional
$487,718 for programs in Jordan –
initiatives that largely help Syrians and
Iraqis who face persecution or lifethreatening danger
Healthcare: In the realm of healthcare,
these funds have supported two
hospitals and a clinic that has provided
medical assistance to more than 2,390
refugees and psychological programs
benefitting close to 300 Iraqi refugees
Education: Close to $60,000 has been
invested in education — from summer
camps, tutoring classes to faith
formation classes and courses in English
— which have benefited more than
1,300 persons of all ages
Emergency Aid: CNEWA continues to
distribute essential emergency supplies
for refugees who find themselves with
lodging — such as empty apartments
— without amenities or essential
furniture. CNEWA provides basic needs
such as mattresses, pillows, blankets
and kerosene heaters, which are
desperately needed due to cold winter
conditions in Jordan. Every day more
and more families come knocking at
CNEWA’s door for similar assistance.
a papal agency for humanitarian and pastoral support
Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022-4195
www.cnewa.org • 1-800-442-6392